Corey Llewellyn, 30, founder of New York City-based Digiwaxx Media, a multifaceted technology and media firm. Projected 2008 revenue: $1.8 million
"Banks just aren't giving small businesses the loans they need to thrive in the current economic environment. It's hard, and it's disheartening, but it's also the reality. In lieu of traditional loans, Digiwaxx Media has begun to shop our marketing and business plans to prospective clients. It is their sponsorship of our ideas and programs that will be used to fund these initiatives."
Lisa Williamson, 40, co-founder of UpSpring, an Austin, Texas-based baby-care products company. projected 2008 sales: More than $5 million
"The landscape and the climate today is more conservative. Financing took longer than anticipated, so we had to put some of our products on hold. We were really fortunate to [eventually] raise $2 million, which we were able to do through angel investors."
Ryan Feig, 35, founder of Zensah Performance Apparel, a Miami innovator of seamless compression sportswear. Projected 2008 sales: seven figures
"My experiences with banks have been extremely difficult—even though we sell to teams in the NBA, are a 3-year-old company, have great technology and have some of the greatest athletes. Lending Club [an online social lending network] has been a savior. It's true capitalism for borrowing. Tomorrow, even if there is no more credit crunch, I think people are going to have better access to capital through people-to-people lending than, let's say, a bank."
—By Sara Wilson
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